Call up / Send down
The Bruins have recalled Jeremy Smith from Providence (AHL); he will backup Jonas Gustavsson.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Rask (undisclosed) is not expected to start on Saturday.
Goalie Start
Kampfer (undisclosed) will not play on Saturday.
Kampfer left Thursday’s game in Ottawa and he will be replaced be Michael Matheson, who was recalled from Portland (AHL). Kampfer’s status for game 1 of the playoffs remains up in the air.
Gudbranson (upper-body) will not play on Saturday.
Gudbranson will miss his third consecutive game on Saturday, but should be ready for game 1. Gudbranson probably could have played tonight but there is no need to risk him getting hurt for the playoffs.
Kucherov (undisclosed) will not play on Saturday.
Kucherov missed the morning skate and will be held out of the lineup in the Lightning’s season finale. Head coach Jon Cooper said he is not worried about Kucherov, so expect him to be ready for game 1.
Hedman (upper-body) will not play Saturday; expected to be ready for game 1.
Hedman took part in the Lightning’s morning skate and could play tonight, but the Lightning won’t risk it and make sure he is ready for game 1 of the playoffs.
Goalie Start
Line Change
Varone will make his Senators debut on Saturday.
Varone has 19 points (5G / 14A) in 18 games with Binghamton since being acquired from Buffalo. Tonight he will make his Ottawa debut vs. the Bruins. He has nine points (5G / 4A) in 42 career NHL games.
Line Change
Lazar will not play on Saturday.
There is no word whether or not Lazar is battling an injury or if he is a healthy scratch. Lazar will be replaced by Phil Varone.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy will start Saturday in Montreal.
Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Lightning’s loss in New York on Tuesday. The 21-year-old has gone 11-9-0 with a 2.70 GAA and .913 SV% on the year. Tonight he will face a Canadiens team that has lost six of their last 10 games coming into tonight’s game vs.the Lighting.
Okposo (personal) is questionable for Saturday.
Okposo’s wife is expecting this afternoon, so Okposo may sit in Saturday’s game vs. the Sabres. Monitor Okposo’s status as puck-drop nears.
Line Change
Zidlicky will not play on Saturday.
The Islanders have already clinched a playoff berth, so Zidlicky will rest in the season finale. Adam Pelech has been recalled to take his spot in the lineup.
Line Change
Hickey will not play on Saturday.
The Islanders have already clinched a playoff berth, so Hickey will rest in the season finale. Ryan Pulock will draw back in for Hickey.
Line Change
Martin will not play on Saturday.
The Islanders have already clinched a playoff berth, so Martin will rest in the season finale. Alan Quine has been recalled to take his spot in the lineup.
Clutterbuck will not play on Saturday.
The Islanders have already clinched a playoff berth, so Clutterbuck will rest in the season finale. Bracken Kearns has been recalled to take his spot in the lineup.
Goalie Start
Gibson starts Saturday vs. the Sabres.
Gibson allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Islanders win in Washington on Tuesday. Thomas Greiss got the call on Thursday, but they’ll go back to Gibson vs. the Sabres. He had a strong year going in the AHL and just collected a W over the NHL’s top team, so he could be a decent value option vs. Buffalo. However, the Islanders are going to be without some key members of their team.
Goalie Start
Dubnyk starts on Saturday but not expected to play a full 60.
Dubnyk allowed three goals on 20 shots in the Wild’s loss to the Sharks on Tuesday. While Dubnyk will get the start vs. the Flames, he is not expected to play the entire game and will be replaced by Darcy Kuemper whenever he is pulled. Dubnyk has lost four straight while allowing at least three goals in each of those starts.
Goalie Start
Jones will start Saturday vs. the Coyotes.
Jones allowed five goals on 26 shots in the Sharks loss to the Jets on Thursday. Jones has lost four of his last five starts while posting a 2.84 GAA and .886 SV%. Tonight he will face the Coyotes for the fourth time this season—he has gone 2-1-0 with a 1.34 GAA and a .941 SV% in the first three meetings of the season.
NHL Player News: Your Ultimate Source for Hockey Player News
At Daily Faceoff you can stay in the know regarding all 32 teams and their top players this season. From trades, to injuries, and everything in between, you can find all the latest NHL player news today here. Staying up to date with player news NHL can also give you a competitive edge in your fantasy hockey leagues, as well as your NHL bets.
Check out all the latest NHL updates below and learn more about the hottest updates in the hockey world today.
Who are the top NHL players to watch this season?
There’s never been more talent scattered across the NHL than there is this season. With living legends like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin still setting records left-and-right, alongside today’s current superstars such as Connor McDavid and Nathan Mackinnon, the level of talent in the NHL is at an all-time high. Along with these established stars, there’s plenty of budding stars emerging every season such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, and Matvei Michkov.
What are the latest updates on NHL player suspensions or disciplinary actions?
Already this season we’ve seen the hammer brought down by the NHL Department of Player Safety. Notable suspensions and fines include Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs who was given a five-game suspension for an illegal check to the head against the Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot who was dealt a three-game suspension, also for an illegal hit to the head.
In the 2023-24 season, there were a total of 14 suspensions and 17 fines issued throughout the NHL. The longest suspension served was dealt to former-Detroit Red Wing David Perron at six-games after a cross-checking penalty dealt ironically against his current team in the 2024-25 season, the Ottawa Senators. Additionally, Perron was fined $148,437.48 for his actions.
How are NHL player performances impacting fantasy hockey?
NHL player performances make a direct impact on the outcome of any fantasy hockey matchup. Staying up to date with the latest news and performances of your team’s players can be the difference between winning and losing.
Some notable fantasy hockey performers that flew under the radar in most drafts this year include Martin Necas (123 ADP) of the Carolina Hurricanes and Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks. While sleeper picks are always a great get, nothing is worse than a bust taken early on. Some of the most disappointing players of the fantasy hockey season includes Zach Hyman (28 ADP) of the Edmonton Oilers and Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars (33 ADP).
Whether you’re checking out how your current rostered players are performing or scouting for hidden gems on the waiver wire, the latest player news can help you make your next winning move this season.
Which NHL players are having breakout or comeback seasons?
Every season there are several players who have breakout years, establishing themselves as some of the best up-and-coming stars in the league. In the 2024-25 season early breakout candidates have emerged such as Dylan Strome of the Washington Capitals (on-pace for his first 100-point season) and Ivan Barbashev of the Vegas Golden Knights (on-pace for career-high in points).
Additionally, nothing beats a comeback story, and that can be said about surging veterans such as Anze Koipitar of the Los Angeles Kings, and Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars.
How often is NHL player news updated?
Our player news is updated regularly throughout the season, bringing you fresh player updates every day throughout the calendar year. Providing our users with a one-stop destination for everything you need to know from across the NHL, our player news is the go-to spot for all the biggest stories in the hockey universe.
What types of information does NHL player news cover?
Our NHL news covers every aspect of the hockey season. From injuries to trades to rumours and even suspensions, we’ve got you covered through it all with credible and fast-updates all-season long.
Are there specific sources for reliable NHL player updates?
All of our sources come from credible and reputable areas. When you’re at Daily Faceoff, you can trust that we are never going to spoon-feed you fake news. You can trust you’re only reading legitimate news that matters.
How does NHL player news impact betting lines?
Player news has a massive impact on the latest hockey betting lines. From daily game lines and prop bets, to Stanley Cup futures bets, every trade, roster change, and injury can shake up the odds set by oddsmakers.
By staying informed on the latest NHL updates, you can become a better NHL bettor as you’ll have a winning edge thanks to our in-depth news coverage.
DFO’s Specialized News Categories
Get the most out of your hockey news with our in-depth coverage of the NHL with our comprehensive player news updates. Below we’ve compiled go-to destinations for player injuries, trades, signings, line combinations, and more!
- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.